CREATIVITY + INNOVATION Page 19 of 38

Issue 3 of MOYO Magazine is here! Get your FREE copy of ‘The Fabric Issue’

MOYO Issue 3

Our third (and biggest ever) issue of MOYO Magazine. Issue 3 is out now! You can see it here. It includes:

  • Amy Butler on the business of design
  • Talking fashion and fabric with Josephine Kimberling
  • Behind the scenes at the Home Show
  • A new DIY column from Lil Blue Boo
  • Announcement of the winner of our Print & Pattern Scholarship
  • …and much more!

Talking fashion and fabric with Josephine Kimberling - MOYO Issue 3

Issue 3 of MOYO Magazine is here! Get your FREE copy of 'The Fabric Issue' Amy 550PX double page

Issue 3 of MOYO Magazine is here! Get your FREE copy of 'The Fabric Issue' DIY feature 550PX double page

Shopping Heaven - MOYO Issue 3

Please help us spread the word about this free magzine by sharing it on Facebook and Tweeting about it (@surfacepatternd #moyomagazine). Please also feel free to blog about it or share it in your newsletter and inspire even more people to dive into the exciting world of surface pattern design!
Get your free copy HERE!

Behind the scenes of the making of an e-course (Make Art That Sells with Lilla Rogers)

Behind the scenes of the making of an e-course (Make Art That Sells with Lilla Rogers) dwylhq1

This brand new course is particularly exciting for us because we get to work with industry veteran Lilla Rogers, who is sharing what she has learnt over three decades as an illustrator and top agent. Lilla is an incredible woman – so knowledgeable and savvy, yet so philosophical and kind. She cares for her own artists like a mother hen, and I am thrilled that we get to expand her virtual nest through Make Art That Sells!

Behind the scenes with Lilla Rogers

Filming Make Art That Sells with Lilla Rogers

There are more and more e-courses popping up all over the internet and some are better quality than others but generally I think this democratisation of education is fundamentally a really good thing. Gooodbye restrictions of location, timing, access etc, hello flexibility, anytime/anywhere availability, and international connections. Do What You Love has come a long way since we launched our first e-course two years ago, and we make it a priority to keep learning, researching, trying new things. When you have delivered courses to thousands of people in more than 50 countries, you soon realise that technology can be scary, but it is also fascinating, and is absolutely your friend if you can take the time to understand it, or find someone else who can!

We are often asked for hints and tips on developing e-courses, so I thought I’d share some behind-the-scenes images from the filming of Make Art That Sells with top artist agent Lilla Rogers, which opens for registration next week (we already have a massive waiting list to get on it if you are interested!)

Behind the scenes of the making of an e-course (Make Art That Sells with Lilla Rogers) IMG 2571

I travelled to Boston last month to film with Lilla and our professional cameraman Kevin Balmer, who joined us from Portland. Prior to the trip we had spent hundreds of hours developing the curriculum, drafting the content, selecting images, building the virtual classroom, planning the production schedule etc all via the miracles of email and Skype. By the time we all got together at Lilla’s studio for four full-on intensive days of taping, we were so excited to get going with the filming piece. Fortunately Lilla is a natural in front of the camera, and was able to share her insights and knowledge eloquently, generously and often humorously on film. Her studio is a colourful, visual feast, full of real products that feature her artists’ licensed work, and we can’t wait to share the videos with participants when the course launches.

Here is a sneak peek of us at work!

Behind the scenes of the making of an e-course (Make Art That Sells with Lilla Rogers) IMG 2308

Make up (always worth getting a professional on the case when you are filming in HD – thanks Maura) 

Behind the scenes of the making of an e-course (Make Art That Sells with Lilla Rogers) IMG 2232

Getting the mic on

 Behind the scenes of the making of an e-course (Make Art That Sells with Lilla Rogers) IMG 2524

Talking through the talking points!

Behind the scenes of the making of an e-course (Make Art That Sells with Lilla Rogers) IMG 2541

Lights, camera, action!

Behind the scenes of the making of an e-course (Make Art That Sells with Lilla Rogers) IMG 2328

Me in Producer Mode

Behind the scenes of the making of an e-course (Make Art That Sells with Lilla Rogers) IMG 26651

Always time for some art from the illustrator in Lilla!

I hope you enjoyed that little behind-the-scenes tour! If you have ever wanted to learn how to make art that sells, directly from someone who has sold art for products worth over $100 million, then check out Make Art That Sells.

Wedding wobbles

wedding inspiration

I have had my first wedding wobble this week – nothing to do with actually getting married – can’t wait for that! But more to do with the getting-things-done-by-the-wedding piece. My man and I spent a dreamy day on Sunday planning our service etc, but ever since the long to-do list we created has been weighing on my mind. Haven’t ordered the flowers yet! Or the cake! Or finalised the menu! I am normally a master of organisation and until now have been completely unstressed about it, but this week I just suddenly felt overwhelmed with the need for everything to be perfect, and done already.

But then my lovely man reminded me that whatever happens it will be perfect because we are going to become Mr & Mrs in the company of family and a tiny group of close friends, and it will be a happy celebration of love. It is so true, and deep down I know that, but that doesn’t stop me wanting to make everything by hand and make it all gorgeous.

I was up at 6am this morning sorting all my inspiration images and making lists (my default action when feeling worried about something), and two hours later I felt much better. Sometimes the big things can take on a life of their own which distracts you from the most important thing – WHY you are doing it in the first place. It’s true in business and it’s true in life.

So from now on, for the countdown weeks ahead, I am going to clear my diary of anything that isn’t a priority, breathe deeply, and focus what is really important: Transitioning from one phase of my life to another with the man that I love.

Stellar contributor line up for Make Art That Sells!

Stellar contributor line up for Make Art That Sells! MATS landing page banner new 550

We are so thrilled to announce an incredible line up of top industry talent as contributors to the upcoming new course Make Art That Sells. Not only do you get access to Lilla Rogers, one of the world’s top agents, you will get industry insight and advice from a host of art directors, senior designers and others at the cutting edge. These include:

ANTHROPOLOGIE: Lauren Graham, Producer

CHRONICLE BOOKS: Kate Woodrow, Senior Acquisitions Editor

PAPERCHASE: Gemma Parris, Card Buyer

EK SUCCESS BRANDS: Deb Tagtalianidis, VP – Creative Direction

ROBERT KAUFMAN FABRICS: Evie Ashworth, Design Director, Retail Division

REAL SIMPLE MAGAZINE: Alexandra Mooney, Senior Designer

OOPSY DAISY: Carly Gray, Creative Director

… and more to be revealed soon!

We already have a MASSIVE waiting list for this course, so if you want to be among the first to be notified (and bag an exclusive discount) then get on the waiting list now. Registration opens next Tuesday February 26 2013 when all course details, price and date info will be released.

Stellar contributor line up for Make Art That Sells! waiting list button1

Featured in Where Women Create!

Where Women Create - cover

I have just got back from Boston (more on that soon!) where I was thrilled to walk into major bookstore Barnes & Noble and find the latest copy of Where Women Create, with a 10-page Do What You Love feature in it! It is always such a special moment when you see your writing and photography in a magazine, and especially when the publication is as beautiful as WWC. I have long loved this magazine, and am truly honoured to be included.

Featured in Where Women Create! WWC DWYL

In this article I shared my experience of spending six months in Japan, where I was surrounded by inspiration, and had luxurious time to think, but was without my studio all that time. I talk about how I came to realise that you can be creative anywhere, and sometimes it is worth leaving behind all the bits and pieces of a full studio to head out into the world and create wherever you are. It was quite an unusual article for a magazine which is filled with stunning photos of women’s physical studios and creative spaces all over the world, so I must send my grateful thanks to Jo Packham for including it, and recognising that a creative space can be different things to different people, and different for each of us at different moments in our lives. When I was in Japan my creative spaces ranged from temple gardens and paper factories to the riverbank and a bamboo forest.

You can download the first two pages of the article below, but I would encourage you to get the whole magazine if you can (from Stampington here), because it is filled with inspiring articles and delicious eye candy.

Download the first two pages here: BethNicholls_WWC0213

PS A four-page sneak peek of my new column (co-authored with Kelly Rae Roberts) from the new publication Where Women Create Business was included in the back of this issue of Where Women Create. What a treat and a lovely surprise!

Get inspired… join us on Pinterest!

DWYL Pinterest

If you want some inspiration check out our Pinterest boards – packed with inspiring quotes and beautiful images!

***

Get inspired... join us on Pinterest! ABSPD LOGO 550X250PX LR

PS Module 2 of The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design begins on Monday! If you want to learn how to Create Your Professional Identity, and promote and protect your work, this course is for you. It will not run again until August, so sign up now! 

Make 2013 the year your design business flourishes!

Pattern course graduate spotlight: Faye Brown

Faye Brown - Tweet

Today I would like to introduce another of the talented graduates of The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design. Faye Brown is a UK based designer with over 10 years’ experience in the design industry including graphic design, illustration, motion branding and surface pattern design. Faye said, “The course proved an inspiration and relit my passion for bright, beautiful pattern design.’ Faye also has a keen interest in photography and travel. You can see some of her photography here.

(more…)

Last chance to ‘Monetise your designs’ with The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design

motifs

Cute patterned motifs in ‘Frutti Collection’ by talented course graduate Wendy Kendall

Are you a designer who is struggling to sell your work? Do you wish you had access to industry insight on freelancing, licensing, selling outright and manufacturing? Are you ready to make it as a surface pattern designer? If the answer is ‘yes’ then ‘Monetising your designs’ (Module 3 of The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design) is for you.

Don’t miss it – this is your last chance to join Module 3 before class begins online TOMORROW (Monday 14 January). (This course will not run again until April!) Find out more and register here.

(more…)

In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities

 Beth & Paul wedding invitation

From the moment he proposed I knew that I wanted to make our wedding cosy, handmade, special. And one of the most exciting parts of that for me – a paper lover and stationery addict – was the design of the wedding invitations.

We have opted for a very tiny wedding – only around 35 people – which is hard in one way (as we’d love to have all our friends there) but perfect in another – because it can be intimate and friendly, and because we can enjoy spending time with everyone there. And having just a few guests leaves room for more unusual invitations, and more time to spend on each. Although I wasn’t quite expecting it to take me two months…!

Adventure is a massive part of the life my man and I share, and it was one of our years for 2012 when we got engaged (in the middle of a big adventure in Japan), so it seemed appropriate to use that as inspiration for the invitations. In the end we decided to make each one a message in a bottle, with the invitation wrapped up inside the glass.

In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities invite5

The invitations can be pulled out of the bottles using string with a key attached – a key which looks medieval, like the building where we will get married later this year. I made the invitations using paper I made myself at the Awagami paper factory in rural Japan.

In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities invite1

The front of the invite itself is an illustration that I commissioned from talented designer Libby McMullin, using one of my favourite quotes: “In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities”. I hope we continue to believe that every day of our married lives.

In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities invite41

Wrapped around each bottle was a mini paper book, hand stitched, containing details of the day’s logistics. The cover of this book was a piece of exquisite paper from my favourite paper shop in Paris.

In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities invite31

I loved every moment of making them, and never stopped to think that the RSVPs might also be made with care.

In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities birdcage

Here is the one my parents sent back to us – a gorgeous tiny envelope reply tied with ribbon inside a delicate bird cage. What a precious gift.

Ahhh weddings are so special…

***

Are you married? What were your invitations like? What did they mean to you?

Pattern course graduate spotlight: Jennie Whitham

Jennie Whitham - Rain

We are always super proud when we get feature one of our successful graduates of ‘The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design‘. Today we are showcasing the  work of Jennie Whitham, the name behind JensLittleT

Jennie graduated from Leeds College of Art in 2012 with a degree in Printed Textiles & Surface Pattern Design. She recently joined us on the e-course which ‘allowed her to expand her portfolio as well as push the boundaries of Surface Pattern’. Jennie’s love of florals and geometric pattern lead her to combine the two to create designs that are ‘bright and inviting’.

Jennie’s work has been selected for ‘PatternBase’, a new pattern source book due for publishing early 2013. 

Jennie is currently looking for Freelance and Licensing opportunities to work around her family lifestyle.
You can keep up with Jennie on her website or shop her designs on Etsy. You can also connect on FacebookTwitter and Instagram.

(more…)